Looking for Resources on Roleplaying (Cultural/Psychological)

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Hey, I was assigned to write a paper about a concept for English class, and as I was mulling over what to do, one of my friends suggested that I talk about Roleplaying. I'm thinking about either doing the cultural or psychological aspects of it, dispelling some common misconceptions and what not, but I've run into a barrier: I'm having an awful hard time finding any credible books/sources on roleplaying, and I need to find at least one. A quick search in my state's library center's website on "Role playing" or similar doesn't turn up any related books at all, and I was wondeirng if anyone here knew of something I could use/cite.

Thanks.

 

[fusangite]

You should head over to the Forge, indie-rpgs.com. If any web forum is going to have people able to help you, it will be this one. If you're lucky, Chris Lehrich might even give you some advice for secondary related material. Good luck!

 

[Hellefire]

I wrote a paper in psych class in...87 I think, 'Role-playing games do not cause psychosis or neurosis.' Of course, I didn't have many references besides my psychology textbook and my experiences role-playing. Came out pretty good though, basically just stated that unbalanced people were looking for an outlet, that role-playing games were sometimes that outlet, but that they didn't cause the problem in the first place. Can't think of anything thta might help you right now, but I'll try to remember any specifics I used.

Aaron Blair
Foren Star

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Shared Fantasy: Role-Playing Games as Social Worlds by Gary Alan Fine, University of Chicago Press, 1983
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_1/104-1067974-5564762?v=glance&s=books

The Fantasy Role-Playing Game: A New Performing Art by Daniel Mackay, McFarland & Company, 2001
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...t_1/104-1067974-5564762?v=glance&s=books&st=*

Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role Playing Games by Lawrence Schick, Prometheus Books, July 1, 1991
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_1/104-1067974-5564762?v=glance&s=books

These three should help you out. I've read all of them, and they sound exactly like what you are looking for. The 3rd one might only have a little info for you, but definitly get copies of the first two. Your library should easily be able to get them via interlibrary loan.

 

[jeff37923]

The Pulling Report by MIchael A. Stackpole located at:
http://www.rpg.net/sites/252/quellen/stackpole/pulling_report.html

This is the best source of information about the anti-RPG hysteria that occured in the 80s and 90s here in America. If you are writing a paper about the cultural effects of roleplaying, then it would be a damn shame if you did not include material from this paper.

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Thanks very much people, those links will help nicely!